Snooker players are not happy
Talks are ongoing about the World Snooker Championship trophy
Kyren Wilson has admitted that he does not like the World Snooker Championship trophy following his success last year. The 33-year-old was the latest star to suffer the ‘Crucible curse’ last month, being knocked out of the competition in the first round.
Wilson became the 20th player who failed to retain their crown in Sheffield after suffering a 10-9 loss to debutant Lei Peifan, who was beaten by finalist Zhao Xintong in the next round.
The surprise defeat sent shockwaves through the competition given how dominant Wilson was just 12 months ago. Speaking to TNT Sports, the Englishman has opened up on his one main gripe with his 2024 success – the trophy he was awarded.
Wilson kept plenty of memorabilia from his title win, including accreditations and presents he received from friends, family and neighbours. However, the one keepsake among his collection that he isn’t particularly fond of is the World Championship trophy itself.
He explained: “One little gripe that I do have, I can’t stand the trophy. It’s something we are discussing with World Snooker at the minute. It’s something that needs to change for me, you’ve won the pinnacle of your sport and this is the replica. For me, I don’t mind paying for it. I just want something to show for it."
Wilson’s mention of how it is not just him in talks with the World Championship suggests that he is far from the only player to take issue with the trophy, though Xintong and Mark Williams won’t benefit from any improvements made given their final will conclude today (Monday).
The original trophy is iconic in the world of snooker and dates back to 1926, when it was purchased by Joe Davis for £19. It weighs nearly 1.5kg and is made of silver, but Crucible victors are not awarded that trophy.
Instead, they are issued a replica which is a fraction of the size. Wilson is hopeful that changes are considered for the trophy going forward, and he will be hoping to get his hands on the title next year and bounce back from his recent disappointment. Speaking about his first-round loss recently, he revealed that he will reassess his pre-tournaments prior to heading to the Crucible in 2026 to ensure that he gives himself time to reset ahead of the competition.
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